10th Person Charged in Kidnapping & Murder Case

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

We’ve had yet another arrest in connection with the murder of Michelle Marie Dodge of York this past summer. Our records indicate this is the 10th person arrested in connection with this case. Ms. Dodge’s body was found in rural Laurens County July 20th. Investigators from Laurens, Cherokee and York counties determined that she had been kidnapped and had been killed in the Gaffney area. As the agency recovering the body, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office has led the investigation into the Kidnapping and Murder.

Yesterday, 32-year-old Kayla Lynne Hughey of 589 East Junior High Road, Gaffney was charged with Criminal Conspiracy and Accessory after the fact to Murder, citing the investigating of Officer Farrah Cook.

Kayla Lynne Hughey remained in the Johnson Detention Center overnight, awaiting arraignment on the charges.

Others arrested include a James Robert Peterson, who was already in prison, serving a 30-year sentence for another murder. Sheriff Reynolds cited evidence he says indicates that Peterson orchestrated Ms. Dodge’s murder from prison. James Robert Peterson is charged with Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping regarding the death of Ms. Dodge.